The Local Peace Committees (LPC)s have nominal existence in the districts. Some have hyped such existence as a big success whereas views are also there that the Committees have not been effective given the interparty conflict at the central level. Moreover, conflict victims have not been justly dealt. In this context INFORMAL had talked with the former Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Rakam Chemjong, who had assumed the post comparatively for longer period. An edited version:
Do you think an enabling environment for reconciliation has been created at the local level in the absence of Truth and Reconciliation Commission?
There develops acrimony among people during conflict. As a group hurts the other, people are engulfed by distrust, which results in instability in the post-conflict situation as well. This situation necessitates Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Those involved in felonies during the conflict should be disciplined whereas giving amnesty to the minor crimes might also create a situation to reconcile. But, it is quite essential to make sure that those who lost their beloved family members during the conflict and are suffering from consequential pain should feel they are justly dealt. We could not get desired result from the Peace Committees. They could not yield result as expected also due to the fact that they lack judicial and administrative mandate. Peace Committees are not self-contained and capable to decide on the issues of creating conducive conciliating ambience. So, Truth and Reconciliation Commission is required.
Do you think the conflict-affected people have begun normal socio-economic life?
NR. 100000 was given to each family of the people killed and subjected to enforced disappearances. Similarly, disabled people are given some amount based on percentage of their disability. I don’t think this is a complete amount. Following the formation of Truth and Reconciliation Commission the victims will be repaired. Whatever they have received so far is only the relief amount and is not sufficient to sustain their livelihood or to utilize for the income generating enterprises.
How would you assess the access and relation of the conflict victims and their families with the District Level Peace Committees?
Peace Committees have been carrying out the functions such as identifying and confirming the conflict-victims, recording their details and have also been assisting in distributing reliefs. I don’t think these committees can carry out more than these jobs. Victims and their families are in congenial relationship with the committees. This is primarily because the committees are for the help of the victims and their families.
How did you play your coordinating role as the Minister for Peace and Reconstruction in this connection?
When I assumed my office as the Minister for Peace and Reconstruction, Peace Committees were yet to be established in more than 20 districts. Of the committees formed prior to my appointment, only about twenty were active. I was bent on my aim that Peace Committees in all the districts had to be formed. As a result, Peace Committees were formed in almost all the districts except in 3-4 districts. I had my utmost endeavor to make the committees further resourceful and active. I experienced during my tenure that the committees were carrying out their work effectively especially by assisting the victims and their families in the matter of providing reliefs and keeping their records.
How was the inter-party cooperation or hindrance in this connection?
So far as reconciliation between the victims and perpetrators is concerned, the former has to be provided justice first. The perpetrator has to apologize to the victim especially in the cases of minor crimes and incidents. If a victim understands that his /her perpetrator/s are really sorry to the former after realizing the crime they committed, the victim can forget what happened in the past. This will also open up favorable environment for the reconciliation. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has the responsibility to create such an environment. After intense discussion with the stakeholders, we had tabled a bill on the enforced Disappearances in the parliament, unfortunately again; this has not been passed yet.
Why has it been difficult to pass the bills on Truth and Reconciliation and on the Disappearances?
When we were in the government, these bills were not discussed in the Legilative Committee. I frequently requested to the Chairperson of the Legilative Committee, but she did not want to initiate discussion on these bills. She represents the UCPN-Maoist party, which had the policy not to help the government. Such crucial issues of the post-conflict transition should not have been pended due to political prejudices.
To which level of solution, do you think, these disputable issues have reached to now?
Discussions have taken place in the Legilative Committee to form a small group for discussion on the bill but the committee is not ready to discuss and pass the bill.
Which is more important for the reconciliation, immediate needs or security of the future?
Lasting peace in Nepal cannot be guaranteed until and unless transitional justice is provided. The victims have immediate problems. At the same time, they should be able to see their secure future. So what I think is that establishment of commissions on Truth and Reconciliation as well as Disappearances is the precondition now.
How are the feelings of the victims and their families? What did you find during your tenure? Do they still feel revengeful, want to forget the past or are with similar other feelings?
They are with both told and untold feelings. It doesn’t mean that those families whose members are subjected to enforced disappearances, killed or disabled do not have a feel of revenge at all. They are full of pain and discomfort. It is still likely that such feelings might turn into revenge. So, it is essential to provide justice to them.
What do you think, as the former Minister for Peace and Reconstruction, are the issues accomplished so far, remaining still and also the problematic aspects regarding reconciliation in the society?
Reconciliation is a political issue as well. So, it demands understanding accordingly. However, there is the lack of political understanding in the country now. Even after the extension of the tenure of the Constituent Assembly twice, people doubt that constitution will be written. In such a situation, transitional justice and peace process are affected negatively. Also, such situation hinders the issues such as reconciliation, justice to the victims and punishing the perpetrators. The problem or solution of such issues is directly hinged on political understanding or misunderstanding. The UCPN-Maoists is in the government now, however, discussion on the bill has not been initiated yet. Probably, this is due to the fact that the Maoists have not understood or have undermined the importance and need of such a commission whereas almost major issues to be addressed by the TRC are remaining unresolved.
Do you have any more to express on reconciliation process in the post-conflict Nepal?
To heal the pain and problems of the conflict that exist in the post conflict situation in the society and also for the lasting peace, establishment of Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Commission on Disappearances is a must. Peace committees have to be activated in such a way that they will be able to forge friendly relationship among the parties and also manage conflict at the political level. Or else, it will be difficult to create an enabling environment in the society for the reconciliation.